Rest for the weary: Why a break after FIBA action will be good for the Spurs

Although my understanding of Manu Ginobili’s Spanish comments about the recent FIBA Americas tournament is spotty at best, I can understand a similarity after watching and talking with Ginobili in countless interview situations.

His body language and the bandage across his nose at the FIBA tournament give him away. Playing for Argentina was a struggle and was a physical challenge matched by only the biggest of NBA games.

And in the NBA, the NBPA would be in a stage of ready revolt if its players were asked to play eight games in 10 days as Ginobili’s Argentinian team played earlier in the FIBA tournament. That kind of schedule would make ABA old-timers like Bob Netolicky and Byron Beck cringe at the grind.

The same for Tony Parker, who injured his left thigh earlier in the tournament and sat out France’s most recent game after Les Bleus qualified for the quarterfinals of the Eurobasket tournament.

No team in the NBA had a greater collection of important players taking part in the recent FIBA tournaments scattered around the world. It’s got to make Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford just a tad wary as they watch reports and catch grainy internet images from around the world.

Make no mistake, these tournaments are important for the Spurs and their foreign-born players.

But international basketball is an arduous grind — just like the NBA.

And maybe a few days off after the tournaments finish will be good for all of the Spurs players who are participating.